Art
670 7TH GRADE ART
6 Periods/Cycle/1 Quarter
The seventh-grade art course provides students with experience in a variety of media, techniques, and styles in drawing, painting, and sculpture, and builds on skills acquired in the elementary art program. Students study historical and modern master artists; projects are often based on these studies. Projects are structured toward the acquisition of skills and development of creative self-expression. Students are encouraged to communicate thoughts and opinions about art through written and oral response.
680 8TH GRADE ART
6 Periods/Cycle/1 Quarter
This nine-week art course provides students with increased challenges from 7th grade art in a variety of media, techniques, and styles in drawing, painting, and sculpture. This course is based on the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities. Curriculum is based on art production, historical and cultural contexts as well as critical and aesthetic responses to art. This course presents an increase in art production, homework and test and quizzes based on content history, production and vocabulary. Cross-curriculum skills are implemented into this nine-week course to account for PSSA standards and needs.
604 INTRO. TO STUDIO ART
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
Intro. to Studio Art is a course designed for students in grades 9 through 12. Students will explore a broad spectrum of the art world through the use of varied materials and techniques, including painting, sculpting, drawing, ceramics and printmaking. Through two and three-dimensional projects students will gain a broad background in the many aspects of art making and design. Projects will be based on life experiences, observations, and art history.
608 GLOBAL ART
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
This mixed-media studio course provides an opportunity to create art using different materials (clay, printmaking, collage, painting, among others) while focusing on thematic ideas in art making. Themes such as identity, story-telling, and ecology are used to inspire and develop meaningful works of art. Students compare and contrast philosophy, style, and techniques and examine art as a reflection of society by viewing artists and artwork from around the world. This course is open to any 9-12 grade student interested in art for personal satisfaction or for art students seeking to develop portfolio work. It is encouraged to take this course if considering Honors Art as a junior or senior.
612 HONORS ART III & IV
1 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/All Year
Honors Art is a two-part course developed for students who are genuinely interested in art and art-making. Students entering Honors Art should have a sincere interest in art and a commitment to developing portfolio-quality pieces that hone their studio skills to the highest level. This course is offered to students in grade 11-12 who have taken at least three of the pre-requisite art courses listed above. Reading and written assignments are derived from college-level materials, and an increased amount of work outside of the classroom is necessary to reinforce studio techniques and art historical research. Information on art-related careers, further education, and portfolio development is presented throughout the year. Homework, tests, and exams are required. Students may take this course two years to fully cover the rotating curriculum.
Rotation 1: The Canon of Western Art: This component emphasizes portfolio and studio development while broadening student’s knowledge of the western canon of art history, beginning with pre-historic art and ending with the mid-1800’s movement of Realism.
Rotation 2: Modern and Contemporary Art: This component focuses on modern and contemporary art movements beginning with the birth of Impressionism through Pop, Performance, and Installation Art, focusing on the development of creative self-expression, technical skills, and knowledge of the history and philosophy of art. Prerequisite – Three Fine Arts courses: 604 Intro to Studio Art, 608 Global Arts,613 Drawing and Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Drawing
613 DRAWING AND PAINTING - GRADES 9 - 12
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
Drawing and Painting is a studio course that provides an in-depth focus in the study of drawing and painting media. This course is open to any 9-12 grade student interested in creating art for personal satisfaction, or to art students seeking to develop portfolio work. Art related issues and skills are further developed through routine homework assignments. Daily work, concentration, and development of skills are emphasized.
614 CERAMICS - GRADES 9 - 12
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
Ceramics is a studio course that provides an in-depth focus in the creation and study of ceramics including pottery and sculpture. This course is open to any 9-12 grade student interested in art for personal satisfaction or to art students seeking to develop portfolio work. Art related issues are studied through regular homework assignments.
617 COMPUTER ART I - GRADES 9 - 12
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
This course is designed to introduce students to computer graphics and digital art. Students will learn basic operation of hardware, and software such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Students will apply this knowledge to the creation of meaningful works of art, which reflect an understanding of the principles of design and composition. The course is open to any 9-12 grade student interested in making art for personal satisfaction or to students seeking to expand their portfolio. Art related issues and skills are developed through in-class studio projects. This course fulfills the graduation requirement of a .5 credit of a computer/technology course.
619 COMPUTER ART II - GRADES 9 - 12
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
Computer Art II is offered to students in grades 9 through 12 with the completion of Computer Art I as a prerequisite. More rigorous criteria will challenge students in their problem-solving skills and their prior knowledge of Adobe Photoshop. Both programs will build upon prior knowledge of the basic elements of design as well as meeting the Pennsylvania State standards for Art Education. This course fulfills the graduation requirement of a .5 credit of a computer/technology course.
618 DRAWING - GRADES 9 - 12
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
This is a studio course that provides an in-depth focus on developing skills in observational/realistic drawing. This course is open to any student in grades 9 to 12 seeking to further develop realistic drawing abilities. The nature of this course differs from Drawing and Painting because its purpose is to develop refined drawing skills in pencil without the strong emphasis on the creation of finished artwork in various media. Areas of study will include units in composition, line drawing, shading and value, perspective, figure and portraiture. Further experience and practice will be developed through routine homework assignments.
621 DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY – GRADES 10 - 12
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
Digital Photography is a studio course designed for students in grades 10-12 who have an interest in photography as an art media. Students will learn the fundamental mechanics behind using a camera to create images through an integrated, hands-on approach. Students will focus on composition, lighting and subject matter to create meaningful works of art. In addition to learning how to properly compose and expose images in the camera, students will learn to use Adobe Photoshop to manipulate and make adjustments to their photographs. Students will also study and discuss the historical developments of photography and how it plays into our contemporary, visually based culture. This course fulfills the graduation requirement of a .5 credit of a computer/technology course.
622 MIXED MEDIA CRAFT - GRADES 9 - 12
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
Mixed Media Craft is a studio course designed for students in grades 9-12 who have an interest in working with their hands to create meaningful works of art. Various media are used to create both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works of art. Projects include creative art journals; book binding, paper making, weavings, basketry, and glass slumping. Students will redefine the “rules” of media and production by sewing on paper and water coloring on plaster. Through cultural exploration students will learn various techniques needed to make art that reflects both cultural and personal meaning.
623 SCULPTURE - GRADES 9 - 12
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
This course provides students with an opportunity to use wood, stone, foam, plaster, wire, metal, clay, and other media, to create free-standing, wall-hanging, mobile, and low relief sculptures. Students will learn how to address positive and negative spaces in their work as well as how to problem solve through their designs. A variety of tools will be used to produce an array of three-dimensional pieces. This course provides a great “hands-on” experience that is appropriate for all levels of artistic ability.
624 PRINTMAKING - GRADES 9 - 12
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester
Printmaking is a studio course that provides an in-depth focus in the creation and study of printmaking including mono-prints, reduction prints, and etching. This “hands-on” course also offers the opportunity to work with alternative materials to modify the prints created in class through book-making processes. This course is open to any 9-12 grade student interested in art for personal satisfaction or to art students seeking to develop portfolio work.